How do I calculate my parental leave?

Parental leave is available to each parent for up to 36 months per child. It can be claimed within the first eight years of life (between the third and eighth year of life, however, a maximum of 24 months). Parental leave should be claimed after the child's first months of life, especially if parental allowance is being paid at the same time, even if this presents a challenge for the employer in terms of payroll accounting.

How much do you get during parental leave?

During parental leave, the employment relationship is suspended. As a result, there is no entitlement to remuneration during this time. As a rule, however, parents can apply for <a href="https://einfach-elterngeld.de/en/parental-allowance">parental allowance</a> and thus receive partial compensation for lost income.

How much parental leave do I have per child?

Each parent is entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave per child.

Can both parents take parental leave?

Yes, even at the same time. Parents are jointly entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave per child and parent, which they can claim in up to three periods each within the first eight years of the child's life.

Parental leave calculator

Calculate the start and end of your parental leave quickly and easily with our parental leave calculator

By Felix Böhme, Dipl.-Finanzwirt (FH), graduate in public finance Updated 9 Oct 2026

Parental leave is the legal entitlement of employees to unpaid leave from their employer to care for and raise their child. With our calculator, you can quickly and easily calculate your parental leave duration. In addition, we calculate the exact date of the application deadline for the parental leave application, so that you also do not submit it too late.

Expected date of birth:

Actual date of birth:

Only if your child has already been born.

Is it a medical premature birth*/multiple infant/infant with disabilities?

Parental leave mother:

From LM (month of life):

to LM (month of life)

Parental leave father:

From LM (month of life):

to LM (month of life)

Explanation

*A "premature birth" in this sense exists if the birth weight is below 2,500 g and/or a doctor certifies that signs of maturity are not yet (fully) developed.

Each parent has up to 36 months of parental leave available, which can be claimed within the first 8 years of the child's life.

In addition to the specific parental leave duration, our parental leave calculator will also tell you the application deadline date by which parental leave should be claimed from the employer at the latest.

Important note:

Parental allowance is always and without exception applied for months of the child’s life. Therefore, our parental leave calculator only offers the option of calculating parental leave according to the months of life.

Parents can also claim their parental leave differently, please keep in mind, that you should at least apply for the time of your parental allowance reference period.

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Use our form to apply for your leave properly.

Claim your parental leave now with our template!

Parental leave application template

How does the parental leave calculator work?

First, the calculated date of delivery, or the actual date of birth, must be entered in order to determine the relevant information for the month-of-life principle and the application deadlines, for one thing.

In the second step, you enter the parental leave periods of the mother and/or father. A maximum of 36 months of life are possible here, which you can theoretically claim in the first 8 years of life.

As a result, you will receive the specific parental leave dates and the application deadlines. The latter indicate the date by which the parental leave application must be submitted to the employer. If parental leave is taken before the child’s third birthday, the notice period is 7 weeks; if it falls between the third birthday and the child’s eighth birthday, the notice period is 13 weeks.

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We have answers to your questions.

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FAQ

How do I calculate my parental leave?: Parental leave is available to each parent for up to 36 months per child. It can be claimed within the first eight years of life (between the third and eighth year of life, however, a maximum of 24 months). Parental leave should be claimed after the child’s first months of life, especially if parental allowance is being paid at the same time, even if this presents a challenge for the employer in terms of payroll accounting.
How much do you get during parental leave?: During parental leave, the employment relationship is suspended. As a result, there is no entitlement to remuneration during this time. As a rule, however, parents can apply for parental allowance and thus receive partial compensation for lost income.
How much parental leave do I have per child?: Each parent is entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave per child.
Can both parents take parental leave?: Yes, even at the same time. Parents are jointly entitled to up to 36 months of parental leave per child and parent, which they can claim in up to three periods each within the first eight years of the child’s life.

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